NORTH FORSYTH — North Forsyth High School’s Marine Corps JROTC Drill Team recently placed first at the Larry Jones Invitational JROTC Drill Meet in Montgomery, Ala.

Formerly known as the American Legion JROTC National Drill Meet, the event was the largest in which the team has competed in the past few years, said Eve Phillips, media specialist at North.

She said the Raider cadets took part in nine events, and “despite cold weather and an outside venue for the competition” scored more total points than the other schools.

The nationally recognized program at North is in its 19thyear. Phillips said it has been selected as a National Naval Honor School for the past nine years and named the best Marine Corps JROTC unit in the Southeast three out of the past four years.

Combined with the number of participants, North’s program recently received a third instructor. Master Gunnery Sgt. Randy Merritt joined the faculty on Feb. 1, making North the only school in the Southeast this year to have three retired Marine instructors.

“We have come to Montgomery for 15 of these drill meets,” said Maj. Mac Kelly, the school’s senior instructor. “Over the years, we have managed to secure second or third place several times, but this is the first time our cadets have managed to place first. It has been a real experience to be associated with this outstanding group.”